Lesson 1- Arguments Used in Manifestoes

Argumentative writing. This is a kind of writing where the students establish a position in a given topic and then
use evidence to persuade the audience to see things from their point of view. To write a great argumentative statements,
the students have to investigate first several sides of the argument which allows them to make an educated stance. Then,
they have to collect evidence, including facts, statistics, and claims from experts in the topic’s field.
Argument. In academic writing, this is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up
with evidence that supports the idea.
The structure of the argumentative writing is held together by the following.
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
In the introductory paragraph of an argument essay, present the topic and the issue at hand. It should also be
very clear from the beginning what your position is. Provide a background on the issue or the matter. Highlight your
personal stand in a clear thesis statement. Your introduction should also clearly show the importance or significance of
your position to your readers. In short, tell why it is worth reading all the way.
Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the
reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from
the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.
Body paragraphs that include evidential support. Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one
general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease
of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some
logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis
statement with evidence collected during research.
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic.
Dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than
explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, you should note how opinions that do not align with their thesis
might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.
Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the
thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support
the thesis. However, you must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph
above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis.
The conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided. It is at
this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most
immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new
information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the
topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis.

Analyzing an Issue and Developing an Argument

Once your topic is selected, you should do some research on the subject matter. While you
may already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the argument you want to
take, you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing the pro and con sides of the
topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting
evidence for both sides.

Supporting evidence includes the following:

Type of Type of Source How to find these
Information sources
introductory directories, encyclopaedias, Use the Library catalogue
information and handbooks
overviews
in-depth studies books, government reports Library catalogue,
Canadian Research Index,
Government web sites
scholarly articles academic journals Article indexes
current issues newspapers, magazines Article indexes

Statistics government agencies and Statistics Canada,

associations Canadian
 Research Index, journal
articles
position papers and association and institute reports Library catalogue, web
analyses sites

What is Manifesto as a form of writing?

A Manifesto is a document publicly declaring the position or program of its issuer. A manifesto
advances a set of ideas, opinions, or views, but it can also lay out a plan of action. While it can
address any topic, it most often concerns art, literature, or politics. Manifestos are generally written in
the name of a group sharing a common perspective, ideology, or purpose rather than in the name of
a single individual. It combines a sometimes violent societal critique with an inaugural and
inspirational declaration of change. Although manifestos can claim to speak for the majority, they are
often authored by social activists and usually linked to new ideas.
(https://www.britannica.com/topic/manifesto)
Manifestos aren’t just for politicians or artists. Manifestos are for everyone. In a manifesto, you
declare your vision, core values and goals to the world. This might be a manifesto of a company,
artist, person, movement or politician. Unlike a mission statement, a manifesto is a call-to-action that
works to ignite the masses.
Manifestos create direction, focus and purpose. This can be important in both business and
personal life. Not only do they clarify your beliefs but they help to explore your motives while creating
policies and aims. A manifesto discusses your personal goals in print and helps you to evaluate
opportunities for reaching them. It can also show the world how you are going to contribute to the
future you want to see. Writing manifestos can be in few sentences or the length of a novel. While a
long, drawn out manifesto might include all your intentions and goals, a short, powerful manifesto of a
few lines or a page can get your message across quickly.

Lesson 2- Defending a Stand on an Issue by

Presenting Reasonable Arguments
An argument, when done orally, is helpful to those who are able to participate in the exchange of ideas.
Likewise, the presentation of arguments becomes even more helpful when one put this into writing.

Doing such allows those who are simply interested enough in the issue to pay attention and give a
chance to scrutinize what others are saying about the issue. By expressing our thoughts, we allow others the
opportunity to take a position on the ideas presented. As we exchange ideas with others, we can broaden and
defend our perspective on an issue, as different opinions are raised and weighed in an argument, we can come
up with ideas and solutions that will be of the greatest benefit to other people, the community and the country.
We already have the natural inclination for argumentative skills. Think about how you talked to your
parents into letting them buy a new phone. Did you present them with lots of instances of your past
trustworthiness? Did you make them feel guilty because all your friends’ parents bought them phone? These are
all types of argumentation to take and defend a stand, and they exist in academic writing in similar forms. Now,
let us learn how to present reasonable arguments supported by properly-cited factual evidences to defend a
stand on an issue.
Defending a Stand on an Issue by Presenting Reasonable Arguments
In making the defense, you have to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting
them in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is actually to take one side of the
argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the topic being presented. The
following are the steps in presenting arguments to defend or support a stand on an issue.
1. Make Issue Criteria
Keep in mind that you have to persuade others and make them believe in your claim. When
shaping it, consider and ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to present strong
arguments on the issues.
•Is it a real issue with genuine controversy and uncertainty?
•Can I identify at least two distinctive positions?
•Am I personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
•Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?
2. Collect Evidences from Properly - Cited Sources
Before deciding on a stand to defend, you should do some research on the subject matter. While
you may already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the argument you want to take,
you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing the pro and con sides of the topic will help you
examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. You
will find many different kinds of evidentiary sources.
Here is a list of the most common sources: surveys, descriptive studies, case studies, academic
journals, popular magazines, biographical information, quotes or summaries of work from established authorities,
statistics, interview of an authority or ordinary citizen, laboratory research, and textual analysis.
3. Make an Appeal to Your Audience
To convince a particular person that your own views are sound, you have to consider the audience
way of thinking. Appealing to the audience is another important part of defending a stand on an issue. This can
help you strengthen your position or claim. In an academic argument, logical appeals are the most common,
however, depending on your topic, ethical and emotional appeals may be used as well.
Your claim or position may be supported through three major types of appeals:
a. Logical Appeals
This is the use of facts in order to support and defend a position. This means reasoning
with your audience, providing them with facts and statistics, or making historical and literal analogies. It
persuades the audience by targeting their thinking.
Example:
More than one hundred peer-reviewed studies have been conducted over the past decade,
and none of them suggests that coconut milk is an effective treatment for hair loss.
In this argument, the peer – reviewed studies are used as factual supports.
b. Emotional Appeals
This is the use of the audience’s feelings for the subject of the paper such as anger, pity,
and aversion in order to persuade. It may also refer to values that the reader may identify with such as the
importance of family ties, hospitality and the Bayanihan spirit.

Example:
How can you say that the government shouldn’t censor the internet? Think of the poor
children who might be exposed to inappropriate content.

This type of argument attempts to elicit a strong emotional response, since people will
generally want to protect children, and since no one wants to adopt a stance that will purportedly harm them.

c. Ethical Appeals
This is the use of convincing an audience through the credibility of the persuader, be it a
notable or experienced figure in the field or even a popular celebrity.

Example: As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the
best results.
Here, people tend to believe the opinions of doctors in the matter of medical treatments. The
audience consider the argument because of the credibility of the speaker.

4. Organize your Viewpoints or Arguments

In presenting arguments, you are typically asked to take a position on an issue or topic and
explain and support your position with research from reliable and credible sources. The argument you are
making should be clear within your thesis statement. You should have several reasons or points of discussion
that help you to support your argument. You will explain and support these reasons. As with all academic writing,
you’ll need to cite any information that you used from a source.

Sample Outline
I. Introduction
A. Introduce the topic
B. Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue).

Your introduction has a dual purpose: to indicate both the topic and your approach to it (your
thesis statement), and to arouse your reader’s interest in what you have to say. One effective way of introducing
a topic is to place it in context – to supply a kind of backdrop that will put it in perspective. You should discuss
the area into which your topic fits, and then gradually lead into your specific field of discussion (re: your thesis
statement).

II. Your Arguments

A. Assert point #1 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three)
B. Assert point #2 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three)
C. Assert point #3 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three)

You may have more than one overall points to your argument. Each argument should be
supported with properly - cited sources.
 III. Counter Argument
A. Summarize the counterclaims
B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims
C. Refute the counterclaims
D. Give evidence for argument

You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself what someone who disagrees with
you might say about each of the points you have made or about your position as a whole. Once you have
thought up some counterarguments, consider how you will respond to them--will you concede that your opponent
has a point but explain why your audience should nonetheless accept your argument? Will you reject the
counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you will want to leave your reader with a sense that
your argument is stronger than opposing arguments.
Be sure that your reply is consistent with your original argument. If considering a counterargument
changes your position, you will need to go back and revise your original argument accordingly.

IV. Conclusion
A. Restate your argument
B. Provide a plan of action but do not introduce new information

Lesson 2 Output:
You have already learned some concepts on how to defend a stand on an issue by presenting
reasonable arguments. Now, let us check how far you have gone with our lesson.
Directions: Copy the table below on a separate sheet of paper and list at least three (3) issues/situations in the
society. State your opinion, stand about these issues by providing evidences/reasons.

ISSUES IN THE STAND/ EVIDENCES/REASONS

COMMUNITY OPINION
NO facemask NO Wearing mask  Avoid virus contagious
entry in all in  Discipline is imposed
establishments establishments
must be strictly
observed.

Lesson 3 - Position Paper

Definition and Purpose
Position paper is a typical kind of scholarly or academic paper. It is composed of subsequent to finding out about
and examining a specific issue. It is written by an author in order to make an argument which must be based from proofs or
evidences. It is more complex version of a persuasive essay and it has a various parts like other academic papers. A
position paper can be likened to a debate, but you are presenting your arguments in a written form. Presenting an
argument implies that you are favouring one side of the issue.
Position paper aims to present the stand of the author or a person on an issue. It also incorporates supportive
evidence that are based on facts. The evidence is needed to establish and strengthen the claims or arguments of the
writer on the issue.

Parts of a Position Paper

Position paper consists of three parts such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.

First part is the introduction. It consists the introduction of the issue, explanation of the topic in order to provide
the background information of the issue and the assertion of the thesis statement.
Second part is the body. It includes the summary of the counterclaims, and your arguments. Summary of the
counterclaims refer to the counter arguments of others who disagree with your claims or stand on an issue.
In this part, you must also provide supporting information and refute the counterclaims by providing evidence.
After it is the presentation of your arguments.
It is the part where you must assert your claims by giving educated and informed opinions. These should be
supported or proven by providing evidence from various sources, preferably three.
The last part is the conclusion. It includes the restatement of the thesis statement, arguments and the
implications. You may include plan of action but do not introduce new information.

The following are reminders in writing a Position paper:

 1. Make sure that your position paper has a clear topic and issue that has adequate findings and support.
2. Make sure that the issue you are writing about is real and has two distinctive sides that you can take.
3. Make sure you can provide evidence and support to side and claims.
Examples:
Topic: ROTC
Issue: Inclusion of ROTC in SHS curriculum
Stand: In Favor
Claims:
1. It promotes culture of discipline and responsibility.
2.It provides opportunity to inculcate the values of patriotism, nationalism, and character-building.
3.It provides training that will develop students’ leadership skills.
Thesis Statement: ROTC should be part of the SHS curriculum because it promotes culture of discipline and
responsibility, provides opportunity to inculcate the values of patriotism, nationalism and character-building, and
provides training that will develop students’ leadership skills.

As you can see in the example, an issue is derived from a topic. Before you decide in writing your position
paper, make sure you check if the issue is real and timely. Then you proceed on analyzing if the issue has two sides
before you decide if you are in favor or against it. After which, you need to provide at least three main reasons why
you are in favor or not. Make sure that you can supplement your reasons with facts and evidences in order to
strengthen your claims. Having a clear topic, issue, stand and three claims are not enough unless you have your
thesis statement. Hence, you have to make sure that your thesis statement will include the topic, issue, stand and
three claims.

How should a position paper be outlined?

I. Introduction
A. Presentation of the topic
B. Presentation of the background information
C. Presentation of the thesis statement
II. Body
A. Presentation of the Summary of the Counterclaims
B. Presentation of the Arguments
B1. First Argument
a. Evidence/Support
B2. Second Argument
b. Evidence/Support
B3. Third Argument
c. Evidence/Support
III. Conclusion
A. Restatement of the thesis statement, arguments, action plan
Why is writing a position paper relevant?
Writing a position paper will help you gain insight on the issue. It will also improve your critical thinking ability
since it requires research skills in gathering, evaluating and analyzing information.
Choosing an Issue
1. The issue should be debatable. You cannot take any position if the topic is not debatable.
2.The issue should be current and relevant.
3.The issue should be written in a question form and answerable by yes or no.
4.The issue should be specific and manageable

Types of writing used for convincing:

1. Persuasion appeals to readers’ emotions to make them believe something or take a specific action. It
also uses logic and evidence.
Steps in Persuasive Writing
1. State your opinion and introduce your argument.
2. Give your reasons for your opinion.
3. Illustrate with examples to support your opinion.
4. Restate your opinion and your suggested solution.
Example:
Parents’ love which is illustrated with their sacrifices is worth recognition. They send their children to
school even if they have not gone to school themselves, even if their own wants are sacrificed just to fund students’
needs. You, dear students, must recognize this immeasurable love of your parents by being good in your studies.
 2. Argumentation relies on logic and evidence to build a case for specific claim. Argumentation de-
emphasizes appeals to emotion.
Steps in Argumentative Writing
1. Make a claim.
2. Support your claim with reasons/evidence.
3. Acknowledge the counterclaim.
4. Refute the counterclaim.
5. Conclude with strong statement.
Example:
Many students ignore the significance of doing well in their studies. They often neglect their parents’
sacrifices by getting low grades or worst yet getting failing marks. On the other hand, psychologists say performance in school
is influenced by many factors which include peers. However, to fair well in school is not only about influence but also about
being exposed to social realities such as difficulties of getting decent job. Thus, funding students to school becomes a big
sacrifice among parents.

Persuasive versus Argumentative

This table below will help you differentiate Persuasive writing from
Argumentative writing.
CHARACTERISTICS PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTATIVE
Claim is based on factual
CLAIM Claim is based on opinion
evidence
Asks the audience to do Proves a point to the
PURPOSE
something. audience.
Based on character and Based on stabilized position
BASIS
emotion. and logic.

Guidelines in Writing a Position Paper

1. Begin the writing process with an in-depth research about the issue at hand.
2.Be aware of the various positions about the issue and explain and analyze them objectively.
3. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
4. Establish your credibility by citing reliable sources.
5. Present a unique way of approaching the issue.
6. Limit your position paper to two pages.
7. Analyze your target readers and align your arguments to their beliefs, needs, interest, and motivations.
8. Summarize the other side’s counterarguments and refute them with evidence.
9. Define unfamiliar terms at first mention.
10. Use an active voice as much possible. This will make your tone dynamic and firm.
11. Arrange your evidence logically using an inductive or deductive approach.
12. Check your paper for fallacies and revise accordingly.
13. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeals. Ethical appeals relate to your credibility and competence as writer; logical
appeal refers to the rational approach in developing and argument; emotional appeals pertain to feelings evoked during
arguments. Make sure to check your appeals to ensure that they are not fallacious.

Lesson 3 Output:
Directions: Research one example of a position paper that is related to your track or strand. Print then read
the article, give your reaction on it by answering the following questions given. Copy and answer the questions in a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Write at least three arguments of the writer about the topic/issue.

2. Each of the arguments/claims, answer if you agree or disagree, explain your answers.
3. If you disagree with the writers’ claims, write also your counterclaims about the arguments.

Lesson 4- Kinds of Reports

Reports are essential to keep an updated account of an event, situation, and organization.  These are documents that wish to inform,
analyze, or recommend.  Reports are often expressed through oral presentations or written. The common mediums of these reports are speeches,
televisions, radios, and films.
Report writing is making a detailed statement about the company, an event, a situation, and/or an occurrence which is based on an
observation, investigations, and inquiries.
 The scope and style of reports varied widely. It depends on three key factors: the report’s intended audience, the report’s purpose and the
type of information/subject to be communicated.

TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS REPORTS

TYPES OF
REPORTS:

FORMAL INFORMAL

TYPES OF FORMAL TYPES OF INFORMAL REPORTS:

REPORTS: i. progress report
i. informational reports ii. sales activity report
ii. analytical reports iii. personnel evaluation
iii. recommendation reports iv. financial report
v. feasibility report
vi. literature review
vii. credit report
1. FORMAL REPORT
It is the collection and interpretation of data and information. It is complex and used at an official level. It is often a
written account of a major project.
Example of subject matter include new technologies, the advisability of launching a new project line, results of a
study or experiment, an annual report, or a year old review of developments in the field.

TYPES OF FORMAL REPORTS:

 Informational reports present results so readers can understand a particular problem or
situation.

Example: Tanager of a city’s website might prepare an information report for the city council. The report would
provide statistics or the numbers of people who pay their city water and sewage bills online etc.

 Analytical report
This type goes a step beyond presenting results. It presents results, analyze those results, and draws
conclusions based on those results. These reports attempt to describe why or how something happened and to
explain what it means. Like informational, analytical reports can be formal or informal.

 Recommendation report
It advocates a particular course of action. This usually presents the results and conclusions that support the
recommendations. This type is identical to analytical report.
For example, your analytical report suggests using treatment X is more efficient than treatments Y and Z.
However, that does not mean that you will use treatment X as cost and other considerations might recommend
treatment Y.
 What should we do about a problem?
 Should we or can we do something?
 Should we change the method or technology we use to do something?
2. INFORMAL REPORT
Informal report functions to inform, analyze, and recommend. It usually takes the form o a memo, letter or a very
short international document like a monthly financial report, monthly activities report, research and development report,
etc. This report differs from the formal report in length and formality. It is written according to organization, style and rules,
but usually does not include the preliminary (front) and supplemental (back) material.
It is more controversial in tone and typically deals with everyday problems and issues addressed to a narrow
readership inside the organization.

BASIC STRUCTURE OF A REPORT:

I. Title page. It should include the title, your name and the name of the teacher/tutor to whom it is being submitted, date of
submission, your course/department. The logo of the organization should also be printed.

II. Abstract. A summary of the major points, conclusions, and recommendations should be written to give a general
overview of report.

III. Table of Contents. List of sections, sub-sections, tables, appendices, etc.

IV. Introduction. The first page of the report needs to have an introduction. You will explain the problem and show the
reader why the report is being made.

V. Body (varies according to type of report). This is the main section of the report. There needs to be several sections,
with each having a subtitle. The various sections include Review of Literature, Materials and Methods and Results. A
discussion section can also be included at the end of the body to go over by findings and their significance.

VI. Conclusions. It should draw out the implications of your findings with deductions based on the facts described in your
main idea. The significance and relevance of study is discussed in this section.

VII. Recommendations. Suggestions and advice based on the conclusions.

VIII. References. This is a list giving the full details of all the sources to which you have made a reference within your text.

IX. Appendices. Supplementary materials e.g. other supporting data.

Lesson 4 Activity Output:

Directions: Read and analyse the report below and answer the given questions. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

FAST-FOOD ADDICTION
It is no secret that the US is leading the world in its swelling obesity crisis. The nation is subsisting on a diet of
high-calorie convenience food. In fact, Americans have increased their spending on fast-food items from $6 billion to
nearly $160 billion annually over the past four decades. What may come as a shock, however, is the accumulation of
evidence suggesting that the main ingredients in the typical “hamburger, fries, and a cola” are addictive compounds that
keep customers lining up for their next fix.
The key culprits are sugar and fat. Empirical studies reveal that the heavy dosage of these substances in today’s
super-sized standard of a fast-food meal can trigger brain activity similar to that endured when a person is on hard drugs.
A representative individual serving at McDonald’s or Burger King can dish out up to 2000 calories, including more than a
cup of sugar and 84 grams of fat. Single-handedly, this meal sized portion meets the full daily caloric requirement for the
average woman. Moreover, it exceeds the recommended daily allowances of both sugar and fat for any adult, regardless
of gender.
Whereas heroin is an opiate, both sugar and fat stimulate endogenous opioids such as beta-endorphins in the
hypothalamus, just above the brain stem. These naturally occurring painkillers activate the release of dopamine, a
neurotransmitter, into a small cluster of cells located in the midbrain called the nucleus acumens. Here, dopamine
functions to elicit feelings of pleasure or euphoria. What’s more, it motivates an individual to proactively repeat any action
that originally fuelled its production. In the case of sugar and fat, purported addiction is a consequence of the body craving
the release of dopamine inherent in their consumption.
To validate reports that fat and sugar behave in a drug-like fashion, researchers have conducted laboratory
studies demonstrating that they induce classic addictive symptoms. For example, eliminating sugar from the nutritional
regime of rats that are used to a primarily sweet diet produced anxiety symptomatic of heroin and nicotine withdrawal.
Moreover, increased tolerance to addictive food substances was noted. In one experiment, rats were fed a
chocolate drink containing a high ratio of both fat and sugar. Although the animals were found to ingest increasing
amounts of the potent liquid, their total production of resulting brain opiates was, in fact, diminished. This would suggest
that the rodents had become progressively more tolerant to the effects of fat and sugar. Furthermore, it is likely they would
subsequently require a greater quantity in order to achieve the same high.
Likewise in humans, brain-imaging scans of obese and non-obese persons illustrate that the heftier the individual,
the fewer dopamine receptors are present. Researchers are uncertain whether this is the basis or the outcome of obesity.
However, it is clear that as weight rises, individuals need to consume increasingly larger portions to experience a
comparable euphoric effect.

Questions:
1. Based from the types of report discussed in this module, identify and briefly explain in your own words to
what particular type of report is the given example?

2. Identify the key factors on the given sample report in terms of:
a. intended audience,
b. the reports purpose and;
c. the type of information/subject to be communicated.